Safety release hitch



June 13, 1950 G. w. KAscHMlTTER 2,511,272

SAFETY RELEASE HITcH Filed may 1e, 1949 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

620791? W ghm z'e' MMETTORNEYS June 13, 1950 G. w. KASCHMITTER 2,511,272

SAFETY RELEASE HITCH Filed May 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @gaffe W/sc/zm'e' ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES; PATENTy lilil-Cl?.r

2,511,272 sAFn'rY RELEASE miroirl George W.: Kaschmitter, Fenni Idaho ApplicationMay 1c, 1949, serial Nc. lf3-,5,72

This invention relates to hitches.

An object of this inventionis to provide a hitch for connection between a tractor and a pair of farm implements, such as a pair of pl'ows, which is so constructed and arranged that under normal pulling stressesv the implements will remain connected to the tractor, whereas under abnormall conditions, such as where one implement strikes an obstruction, the hitch will be automatically uncoupled. In this manner neither the implement engaging the obstruction nor the tracto will be damaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hitch for multiple implements which 'canv be readily adjusted toprovide for release of one or both implements when an abnormal pulling strain is exerted by the tractor through unusual drag on one or both implements. With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

In the drawing:

Figure 1 isa plan View ofa trailer hitch constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed rear elevation of the device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally a frame structure which includes an elongated longitudinally extending tubular member l I which has secured to the rear end thereof a transversely extending rear bar I2. The frame IB also includes pairs of forwardly converg-ent bracing bars I3 which are secured at their rear divergent ends to the rear bar I2. Bars I3 are secured at their convergent ends to a looped frame member i4. The looped frame member M. is welded or otherwise xedly secured to the central frame member I I at a point rearwardly of the forward end of latter.

The frame member I I includes a forwardly disposedhousing I5f which isopen at its iront end; and is formedwith an elongated opening I6 with: in which the shank 'II'It of a coupling hook I8 is adapted'to loosely engage; The hook I8 is pi-voted on a shaft laextending between the sides ci the housing i5, and the sides of the housing I5 areformedwith a cutout or notch 2t within which a ring` or loop 21 carried by the tractor Tis adapted* to-releasablyiengage.

The hook I8 isreleasa-bly held in a coupling positiony by members of a-n inverted U-shapedlatch member' 22 which is rockably mounted -on apivo-t23 extending `across the housing I'5. lThe latch member 221-in operative position is adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 2 with the-'eight 2e thereof engaged with the rear end of the shank IJ. The late-h member 22`has extending rearwardly therefrom an elongatedV rod i2 5- lwhich is securedat its fron-t end to a transversely extending bolt 26 which is secured between the sides of the latch member 22. The bolt 26 engages loosely through a pair of arcuate openings l2l which are formed in the opposite sides ofthe housing I5, andthe latch member'Z-'Z is constantly Vurged vforwarellyfto a latching position by means of a spring 28.

The spring 28 engages about the rod 25 bear ing at its front end against the bolt 26 and bearing at its rear end against the frame bar I2. The rod 25 loosely and slidably engages through the rear bar I2 and has a nut 29 threaded on the rear end thereof with a washer 30 secured on the nut 29.

A pair of implement or trailer coupling members generally designated as 3i are disposed one on each side of the frame member I I. Each implement or trailer coupling members 3l includes a plate 32 which has secured thereto an elongated forwardly extending rod 33 which is slidable through the rear frame bar I2. A spring 34 is disposed about the rod 33 bearing its rear end against the front side of bar i2 and bearing its front end against a washer 35 which abuts against a nut 36 which is threaded on rod 33. Each spring 34 is adapted to be tensioned to the point where under normal pull of the implement or trailer the coupling or element 32 will be held against movement 'relative to the frame member I2. Under abnormal pull coupling element 32 will be pulled rearwardly, and at this time the latch member 22 is adapted to be swung rearwardly to a released position by means of elongated releasing lever 31 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 3B carried by a lug 39 which is secured to the rear side of frame bar i2. The

innei end of lever 31 extends across the rear portion of rod 25 and is positioned between washer 30 and the rear side of frame bar l2.

The coupling member 32 is connected to an intermediate portion of lever 31 by means of a pivot 40. There is a releasing lever 31 for each coupling element 32 and the inner ends of these releasing levers are disposed in overlapping position as shown in Figure 6 with the end of one lever above rod 25 and the end of the other lever below rod 25. The releasing levers 31 are supported from the lugs 39 and pivots by means of supporting levers 4I which engage the pivots 38 and 40 on the opposite sides of lugs 39 from the levers 31. In the use and operation of this hitch, the hook I8 is connected with the coupling element 2| with the tractor T, and the coupling elements 32 are connected to each of the implements I which are to be pulled by the tractor. These implements may be plows or other earthworking implements. Under normal conditions of operation, the springs 34 will tightly hold the trailer coupling members 32 against the rear frame bar l2. However, in the event one or both of the implements encounters an obstruction, resulting 3 in excessive pull on the implement by the tractor, one or both coupling members 32 will move rearwardly against the tension of springs 34, and as the coupling member or members 32 move rearwardly the latch releasing lever 31 will rock rearwardly and will pull rod 25 rearwardly to swing latching member 22 to a released position. With latch member 22 in released position, hook I8 is free to rock downwardly and forwardly, thereby releasing coupling member 2l from hook I8. With an overload releasing hitch as hereinbefore described the implements connected to the tractor by means of this hitch will not be damaged by encountering an obstruction, such as a stone, root, or the like.

What I claim is:

1. A trailer hitch comprising a frame, a tractor coupling hook pivotally carried by said frame, a spring tensioned trailer coupling member movably carried by said frame, a latch member movably carried by said frame, an elongated rod connected at one end to said latch member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a release lever pivotally carried by said frame and having an end extending in the direction of the rear end of said rod, means pivotally securing an intermediate portion of said lever to said trailer coupling member, a, spring constantly biasing said latching member toward latching position, and a part carried by said rod disposed in the path of pivotal rotation of said lever in one direction whereby excessive rearward pull on said tractor coupling hook will rock said lever in said one direction to thereby move said latch member to released position.

2. A trailer hitch comprising a frame, a tractor coupling hook pivotally carried by the forward end of said frame, a pair of spring tensioned trailer coupling members slidably carried by said frame, a latch member for said hook pivotally carried by said frame, an elongated rod pivotally connected at one end to said latch member and extending rearwardly therefrom, a washer carried by the rear end of said rod, a spring constantly urging said latch member forwardly to latching position, a pair of release levers disposed in confront position, means pivotally securing the outer ends of said levers to said frame, and means securing an intermediate portion of each lever to a trailer coupling member the inner ends of said levers being disposed in a position whereby rearward rocking of said levers by abnormal pull on said trailer coupling members will engage said washer to thereby rock said latch member to released position.

GEORGE W. KASCHMITTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,361,166 Miner Dec. '1, 1920 1,375,605 Pepper Apr. 19, 1921 45 1,859,649 Den Besten May 24, 1932 

